Navy adds $1.4B to Bell-Boeing V22 deal

AMARILLO, Texas — The Navy has added $1.4 billion to a Bell-Boeing contract to build 22 V-22 Ospreys in Texas.

The Amarillo Globe-News reported Tuesday that the contact modification includes fiscal 2013 funding for 17 MV-22s, the Marine Corps Osprey version, and four CV-22s for Air Force Special Operations.

Bell-Boeing is a joint venture between Textron Inc.’s Bell helicopter business and Boeing Co. The U.S. military plans to use the tilt-rotor aircraft to replace older CH-46 helicopters.

More than 10 percent of the work will be performed in Amarillo, where Bell Helicopter also assembles utility and attack choppers for the military. Navy officials say about 25 percent of the work will be done in Fort Worth.

The deal also provides funding to help build 19 MV-22s and 18 CV-22s in fiscal 2014.